Glenlivet 4G phone mast set for early completion after home learners and workers face lockdown challenges
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A NEW phone mast in the Braes of Glenlivet is set for early completion – meaning a 4G connection will be available to the area's home schoolers and workers from mid-week providing final tests are successful.
Poor connectivity has presented problems for local residents trying to work and learn from home during the current lockdown.
BT Group has now confirmed that the new EE mast should be activated on Wednesday, January 27, pending the final tests, pushing the completion date forward from its original mid-February estimate.
Local SNP councillors and Moray SNP MSP Richard Lochhead welcomed the news. They had been pressing for the work to be made priority to help people in the area get better access to digital learning and online services such as shopping delivery.
Last week Mr Lochhead met online with the project team and Scottish Government officials to discuss the connectivity issues in the area and the need for a 4G service to be made available urgently.
Moray Council leader Graham Leadbitter had also written to BT, with cross-party support, asking the company to do all it could to accelerate completion. The new timescale was confirmed by BT Group’s senior manager for policy and public affairs.
Mr Lochhead said: "Over the last few weeks I’ve been contacted by a number of residents in Glenlivet who have been experiencing huge difficulties working and schooling from home due to poor connectivity and, in some cases, no broadband connection at all.
"The construction of the EE phone mast at the Braes has been under way for some time and was clearly the solution to the problems people are having.
"Since before Christmas I’ve been pushing EE and Openreach to pull out all the stops to get the mast completed and activated as as quickly as possible, given the importance of internet access for people working from home and for kids learning remotely.
"This investment by the Scottish Government in local infrastructure is welcome and I’m really pleased to have received an update from EE confirming that the mast should go live later this week.
"I’ve got my fingers crossed that everything goes to plan between now and the activation date, and I’m sure that local residents will be delighted to finally be able to have a reliable internet connection in their homes."
Cllr Leadbitter added: "The investment in a new EE mast to broaden coverage around Glenlivet was already very welcome in an area that is very rural and hilly, where families can struggle to get good connectivity for mobile phone and internet access.
"I am grateful that they have recognised the current circumstances and pushed to get everything connected up as quickly as possible, delivering important high-speed internet to the area via mobile technology."
The construction of the Glenlivet phone mast is part of a £25 million investment by the Scottish Government to plug mobile not-spots across the country.
Local councillor Louise Nicol (SNP, Speyside Glenlivet) said: "As we went into the recent lockdown the need for good connectivity has been all the more acute to support things like online learning or accessing key services from home, and I am really pleased that BT Group have risen to that challenge and are getting the mast operational sooner than planned.
"I know that families and businesses in the Glenlivet area will gain significant benefit from this investment.
"I am absolutely delighted that the work has been pushed along by BT Group, which is great for the local community."
Related articles: Moray MSP Richard Lochhead calls for quick opening of new 4G mast at Glenlivet
